Allergy | Causes, diagnosis, treatment

Swine flu, or swine influenza is the latest health issue that concerns the whole planet, as if it turns into an outbreak it may be impossible to be kept under control. The today’s WHO warn is that swine flu is threatening to become pandemic. People in Mexico are already in alert, schools have stopped activity and people are wearing medical masks when going out of their dwellings.

People are dying of swine flu, not only in Mexico, but also in USA and Europe. A toddler in Texas was the first U.S. victim of the terrible disease. Yesterday, eight states decided to close schools, and president Barrack Obama said that more closings may be needed in order to prevent the pandemic.

Swine Flu vs. Allergies

Spring is maybe the worst season of all in regards to allergic people, as they are going through an exacerbation of their allergy symptoms anyway. Some of these symptoms being very similar to those of swine flu, it’s easy to see that this segment of the population is already living fear at each allergy manifestation that they used to treat with calm and antihistamines.

Although allergy means an increased sensitivity, there’s no reason to believe that allergic people are more exposed to contracting the swine influenza. They are only more prone to get scared for nothing and mistake their common allergy symptoms with what may be a beginning of swine flu, thus causing panic. Many respiratory symptoms such as coughing, running nose or sore throat are common to swine flu and allergy, but symptoms like diarrhea, fever or lack of appetite do not belong to allergy reactions. Therefore, if you are allergic and you notice unusual symptoms like the ones described above, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, to get diagnosed in the early stage of the swine flu disease.

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